Aug.27, 2005

TACOMA, Wash. -

WENDY CARPENTER; The News Tribune Published: August 27th, 2005 12:01 AM

The last time Andy Olson missed playing in a football game, he was a junior in high school in Chehalis. And the wide receiver didn't even miss the whole game, just the second half after he sprained his ankle.

So he wasn't about to let a collapsed lung - suffered Aug. 12 during practice - keep him out of the first game of his senior season, when Western Washington University kicks off tonight at 6 at Mesa State College in Colorado.

"When it first happened, it just felt like chest pains," Olson said this week from Bellingham where the Vikings were finishing up training camp. "Then my whole left arm started to go numb, and I was freaking out. By the time I got to the hospital, I was in shock. Then they found out what was going on and I calmed down a little bit. But it was pretty scary at the time."

Olson, Western's team captain for the second consecutive season, was initially expected to miss two to three weeks.

"But I did the math in the hospital, and that would have meant missing (today's) game," Olson said. "And I definitely hate missing games."

So after spending three days in the hospital - and learning that a collapsed lung was not uncommon for people of his age, size and build - Olson returned to practice Sunday.

"I probably started a few days too early," he said, "because I was really sore at first. I was out for a week straight and getting back into shape has been the hardest thing. But my conditioning is probably 80 percent back. It's great to be back - it's nice to be able to run again."

And Western will welcome Olson in its starting lineup today. The Vikings are looking to improve upon last season's maddeningly inconsistent season, when they finished 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. They won the GNAC four of the prior six seasons.

But Western went from beating North Central Conference champion Nebraska-Omaha and rival Central Washington in the second annual Battle in Seattle to suffering losses to Western Oregon and Humboldt State, teams Western later defeated by 49 and 35 points.

But Olson was consistent. He's a preseason All-American who had 68 catches for 1,075 yards and 15 touchdowns, ranking 10th in NCAA Division II for receiving yards (107.5 average). He enters the season with a school and GNAC record for touchdown catches in nine consecutive games.

"I'm not really surprised at all that he's come back this quickly," said Rob Smith, the winningest coach in school history, now in his 17th season. "This offense could be one of our best. But I'm also really excited to see our defense play. The road to the championship goes through defense."

Having an experienced team also helps. Western returns six starters on offense, six more on defense.

"If we learned anything from last season, it's that we have to be more consistent every weekend," Smith said.

And Olson - who harbors NFL aspirations - has learned a lot since training camp opened earlier this month.

"At the time (of the injury) it seemed huge," Olson said. "But now it doesn't seem like such a big deal. I'm just really looking forward to my senior year. I'm hoping we can go out and dominate (today) and set the tone for the season."

Western Washington University VIKINGS

Civic Field (4,400), Bellingham

Coaching staff: Head coach Rob Smith (17th year); offensive coordinator Eric Tripp (13th year); defensive coordinator John Ely (10th year).

2004 record: 6-4 overall, 3-3 GNAC (second).

Returning lettermen: 36.

Returning starters: 13 (six offense, six defense).

The offense: The biggest weapon for the Vikings is Andy Olson, who set school and league records by making 15 touchdown catches last season. Other key returning players include sophomore slotback Chris Robinson, the GNAC freshman of the year, and first-team all-league players Nick Yoney, a tight end, and running back Duncan Sherrard. At quarterback will be James Monrean, who has had just one career start. He tied a school record by throwing five touchdowns.

The defense: After an inconsistent and sometimes shaky start to last season, the defense came on at the end, allowing an average of just 17.0 points and 237.0 yards over the last three games. The Vikings will be sparked by senior linebacker Craig Keenan, who led Western with 85 tackles last season, along with senior cornerbacks Sly Whitfield and Brett Hall.

Outlook: For the first time in nine years, Western is neither the favorite nor the co-favorite to win a league title. Instead, the Vikings were predicted to come in second, behind rival Central Washington, in the GNAC coaches preseason poll. ... The offense might be the school's best ever, and if the defense can improve from last year, the Vikings could add their seventh GNAC title in 11 seasons. VIKINGS' SCHEDULE

Today: at Mesa State (Colo.), 6 p.m.

Sept. 3: at Washburn (Kan.), 11 a.m.

Sept. 10: vs. St. Cloud (Minn.), 6 p.m.

Sept. 17: at North Dakota, 11 a.m.

Oct. 1: vs. Humboldt State, 6 p.m.

*Oct. 8: vs. Central Washington, 6 p.m.

Oct. 15: at Western Oregon, 2 p.m.

Oct. 22: at Humboldt State, 6 p.m.

Oct. 29: vs. Central Washington, 1 p.m.

Nov. 5: vs. Western Oregon, 1 p.m.

*At Qwest Field, Seattle